"Quality of life" is a phrase often used and heard. But what does it mean?
In connection with Saturday's observance of Serve Jefferson City, Mike Kehoe addressed the question.
"You always hear people talk about quality of life and nobody really understand what that means," Kehoe said. "But if you go and look at a Jefferson City park, that's a physical attribute of what quality of life is all about."
Kehoe served Saturday not in his official capacity as a state senator, but as volunteer flipping and serving pancakes.
And the city parks he referenced represent a community that values its environment, just as volunteers represent service to others.
Service to enhance quality of life is a constant in our community, but its scope was vividly displayed this weekend.
• This year's installment of Serve Jefferson City attracted about 350 volunteers, who fanned out throughout the community to work on betterment projects. Working side by side were state and city officials, g court participants, members of area not-for-profit agencies and many more volunteers.
Projects included cleanup of parks and streams, gardening and planting, and painting and repairs.
• Saturday's event was followed by, and coordinated with, Mission JC, an outreach effort among area churches.
Hundreds of volunteers again worked on indoor and outdoor projects Sunday morning at home, schools and organizations.
• In addition to annual, organized efforts, quality of life also extends to the countless individual efforts in our community.
An example published in our Sunday edition highlighted friends and co-workers aiding a fund-raising effort by a local couple, who are helping family members in Siberia rebuild after their home and village were among the 4,100 homes in 40 communities destroyed by a wildfire.
The goal is to rebuild the homes, and the villages, before the onset of winter, when temperatures drop to -45 degrees.
The devastation half a world away helps put in perspective how fortunate we are to serve at improving amenities rather than surviving the elements.
Quality of life doesn't just happen; it requires commitment, service and -often - sacrifice.